Latest releases
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3,928 releases
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McGrath: NHS still sleepwalking into a winter crisis despite pay deal
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the health service is still heading for a winter crisis despite the staff pay award, blaming Executive dysfunction and a Winter Preparedness Plan published amid delay and criticism. He calls for year-round resilience building and long-term…
Health Issue: Health and social care staff pay award and Winter Preparedness Plan Original release: McGrath: NHS still sleepwalking into a winter crisis despite pay deal (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Stormont must beef up ministerial accountability following Givan scandal
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says Stormont must toughen sanctions on Ministers who breach the Ministerial Code, ahead of a DUP-blocked no-confidence motion against Education Minister Paul Givan. The SDLP will also table a motion seeking institutional reform.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Vote of no confidence in Minister Givan Original release: O’Toole: Stormont must beef up ministerial accountability following Givan scandal (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole challenges Sinn Féin to back up their support for Assembly reform
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA challenges Sinn Féin to back its support for Assembly reform with action after an SDLP motion calling for a reform programme and an accountability mechanism for Executive Ministers passed.
Constitutional affairs Issue: SDLP Opposition Day motion on Assembly reform and Executive Minister accountability Original release: O’Toole challenges Sinn Féin to back up their support for Assembly reform (opens in a new tab)
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A century after the Boundary Commission, Irish Unity is within our grasp – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald marks the centenary of the Boundary Commission, saying Irish unity referendums could happen by the end of the decade and calling on the Irish government to start planning now.
Constitutional affairs Original release: A century after the Boundary Commission, Irish Unity is within our grasp – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Unionists Must Not Legitimise Connolly Presidency
TUV leader Jim Allister MP urges deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly not to attend the inauguration of Catherine Connolly as Irish President, arguing that unionist presence would legitimise her presidency over her stance on Northern Ireland's constitutional status and her far-left agenda.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish President inauguration invitation declined by Deputy First Minister Original release: Unionists Must Not Legitimise Connolly Presidency (opens in a new tab)
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Doug Beattie MC MLA Raises Concerns On Behalf Of The Cawdery Family Regarding Accuracy Of The Justice Minister’s Responses
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA raises concerns, on behalf of the Cawdery family, over the Justice Minister's Assembly answers on Thomas McEntee's day release from prison. He says the answers were inaccurate and misleading, and will write to the Minister seeking clarification.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Thomas McEntee day release and Justice Minister's Assembly answers Original release: Doug Beattie MC MLA Raises Concerns On Behalf Of The Cawdery Family Regarding Accuracy Of The Justice Minister’s Responses (opens in a new tab)
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Step Forward to Shape Northern Ireland’s Future – Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP urges young unionists to shape Northern Ireland's future within the UK, dismisses border poll talk as a distraction, and accuses Alliance of divisive positions on Irish language signage, Palestine flags and climate policy.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Step Forward to Shape Northern Ireland’s Future – Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must deliver pay deal quickly – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges the Health Minister to move swiftly to finalise a pay agreement for health workers, welcoming the Executive's framework that would bring northern staff pay in line with counterparts in Britain.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Executive approval of health service pay parity Original release: Health Minister must deliver pay deal quickly – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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We need a rules-based International Protection system where applications are processed in a timely manner – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy TD calls for a rules-based International Protection system with timely processing of applications, condemning racist attacks while criticising government handling of asylum decisions, appeals, deportations and IPAS accommodation during Dáil statements. He also opposes the…
Immigration Housing Issue: Dáil statements on International Protection processing and enforcement Original release: We need a rules-based International Protection system where applications are processed in a timely manner – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds welcomes pay parity approval for health staff
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA welcomes the Executive's approval of pay parity across the health service as overdue recognition of healthcare workers. She says the Health Minister should have prioritised departmental budget resources for staff pay and calls for a long-term workforce plan.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Executive approval of health service pay parity Original release: Dodds welcomes pay parity approval for health staff (opens in a new tab)
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Irish government must now begin planning and preparations for Irish unity – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes calls for the Irish government to start planning for a referendum on Irish unity after a Sinn Féin motion passed in the Dáil. He also urges Westminster to set out the conditions under which a border poll would be triggered.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Dáil Éireann motion on planning for Irish unity referendum Original release: Irish government must now begin planning and preparations for Irish unity – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes long overdue pay parity for health staff
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes confirmation of pay parity for health staff, but asks why the Executive and Health Minister took so long to reach it. He says staff should not have had to keep pressing the department, and he wants the Minister to honour his pledge to…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Executive approval of health service pay parity Original release: McGrath welcomes long overdue pay parity for health staff (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers Welcomes Agreement To Deliver Full Pay Award For Health Workers
UUP Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes the Health Minister's agreement with the Executive to deliver this year's pay award for health workers, backdated in full to 1 April 2025. He says the decision is essential for morale, retention and the health service's sustainability.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health Minister confirms backdated 2025 healthcare pay award Original release: Chambers Welcomes Agreement To Deliver Full Pay Award For Health Workers (opens in a new tab)
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Confirmation of pay awards welcome despite delay, says McAllister
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister welcomes the Health Minister's confirmation that healthcare workers will receive this year's pay award, backdated to 1 April 2025, and praises his commitment to budgeting for pay awards early. She says the months of delay have again undermined staff confidence.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health Minister confirms backdated 2025 healthcare pay award Original release: Confirmation of pay awards welcome despite delay, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Brownlee welcomes progress on Sensory Room proposals for children’s…
East Antrim MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes the Health Minister's update on a sensory room for the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, following a DUP adjournment debate. She says the Minister asked officials to work with the Belfast Trust on the proposed facility.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Sensory room proposal at Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children Original release: Brownlee welcomes progress on Sensory Room proposals for children’s… (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister is failing women - Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says the Health Minister is failing women affected by the Southern Trust cervical screening scandal after his statement on three further reports. She calls for accountability for those responsible, including in the PHA and the Department, and full…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening reports statement by Health Minister Original release: Health Minister is failing women - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon responds to cervical screening reports
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Health Minister to detail the outcomes of the three reports on cervical smear failings in the Southern Trust, demanding accountability, clear communication, a meeting with the Trust and PHA, and proper resourcing of the new Belfast Trust testing service.
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening reports statement by Health Minister Original release: Dillon responds to cervical screening reports (opens in a new tab)
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Smoke and mirrors of Dud DUP/Donaldson Deal delivers the intended deception
TUV leader Jim Allister KC says the Government is deceptively describing Irish Sea border goods movements as internal market movements after the Independent Monitoring Committee report, and calls for Mutual Enforcement to replace the current arrangement.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Independent Monitoring Committee report on Irish Sea border, January to June 2025 Original release: Smoke and mirrors of Dud DUP/Donaldson Deal delivers the intended deception (opens in a new tab)
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Young people are pivotal to building a new inclusive United Ireland – Rose Conway-Walsh TD & Dáire Hughes MP
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh and MP Dáire Hughes praise young people from Cooperation Ireland projects who addressed the Good Friday Agreement Committee, and Conway-Walsh calls on the Irish government to legislate for votes at 16 following British proposals. Hughes says findings on disabled…
Constitutional affairs Education Original release: Young people are pivotal to building a new inclusive United Ireland – Rose Conway-Walsh TD & Dáire Hughes MP (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Executive must address impact of holiday homes and short-term lets
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter says the Executive must urgently intervene on holiday homes and short-term lets, which she claims are driving up house prices and rents in rural and coastal areas. She welcomes Assembly backing for a motion she tabled and calls for regulation of the sector.
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Assembly motion on short-term holiday let regulation Original release: Hunter: Executive must address impact of holiday homes and short-term lets (opens in a new tab)